Foot massage machine



y 7, 1958 A. w. INFANGEIR 2,836,174

FOOT MASSAGE MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.An.'5hua V Im mgzn A ORNKY May 27, 1958 A. w. INFANGER 2,836,174

FOOT MASSAGE MACHINE Filed Au 51, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Anthun W INFANJERAll ORNEY United States Patent FOOT MASSAGE MACHINE Arthur W. Infanger,Cayuga, N. Y., assignor to Auburn Machine and Tool Co., Inc., Auburn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 31, 1955, Serial No.531,723

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention relates to health exerciseapparatus and more particularly to a foot massage machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and novel foot massagemachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel footmassage device which actuates leg muscles, gently flexes the feet, andpromotes circulation without the slightest physical effort or strain.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel footmassage machine which soothes and relaxes tired feet and legs.

Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a foot massagemachine which combines simplicity of construction and efficiency ofoperation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and novelfoot massage machine of sturdy and durable construction to assureuninterrupted, trouble-free operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel motordriven means for imparting a rotating, pulsating motion to a diaphragmwhich is in contact with the foot of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel footmassage machine which has an adjustable foot positioning and securingmeans for accurately positioning and securing the foot of the user tothe machine, in order to derive the full benefit of its operation.

These and other advantages of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and its scope will be apparent from the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the foot massage machine constructed inaccordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the foot massage machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing themeans for positioning and securing the foot of the user to the machine;

Figure 4 is a side view of the foot massage machine partly in sectionshowing a portion of the motor driven operating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a side view of the motor drive mechanism which is shown insection;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the motor drive and thestructure actuated thereby;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of Figure 2.

For sake of simplicity, like elements will be designated with likereference characters.

Figure 1 shows a foot 17 in phantom cooperatively positioned in a footmassage machine generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Thefoot massage machine 10 is encased by a top or foot support plate 12,support members 13 and 14 and base member 15. The device 10 is supportedby feet 16. A foot positioning yoke-shaped member 18 is integrallyassociated with a channel shaped block 21 and is adapted to be slidablyall engaged about track 22 which is secured to the top plate 12 byscrews 23 and 24. Spacers 25 and 26 elevate the track 22 from plate 12to allow block 21 to slide along track 22. The sliding block 21 may belocked in any desired position by a thumb screw 27. This structure isclearly shown in Figure 3. Cup-shaped members 19 and 20 of yoke 18 areadapted to receive and position the left and right heels of the user toproperly position the feet of the user in the machine. Since thispositioning structure is adjustable, the machine is adapted to 7accommodate any shape or size foot.

' slotted sleeve 49 which is adapted to receive pin 39. A v

The feet are secured to machine 10 and held firmly in position theretoby means of straps 28 and 29. Straps 28 and 29 each have one endfastened to a side plate of machine 10, and the other ends adjustablysecured by strap-holders 30 and 31 which are mounted to the other sideplate of machine 10. Figure 7 shows strap holder 31 secured to the sidewall of the casing of machine 10 by screw 86. An eccentric 82 isrotatably secured to member 84 of holder 30 by pin 81. The strap 28 mustpass between the bolt head 83 and eccentric 82. As will appear obvious,when strap 28 is pulled down and released, it is secured in place by thepressure exerted on the strap against bolt 83 by eccentric S2. The strap28 may be loosened by pulling horizontally toward eccentric 82 andreleasing it.

As shown in Figure 2, plate 12 has two elongated openings 35 and 36. Thefeet of the user, when properly positioned by cup-shaped members 19 and2t) and secured by straps 28 and 29, extend over these openings.Resilient diaphragms 32 and 33 are mounted to plate 12 by screws 34. Theopenings 35 and 36 allow diaphragms 32 and 33 to be exposed to and incontact with the feet of the user. Any movement of diaphragms 32 and 33is thus imparted to the feet of the user.

A gentle, pulsating movement which extends both horizontally andvertically is applied to diaphragms 32 and 33 by the motor drivenstructure shown in Figures 4-6. As best shown in Figure 5, motor 37 hasa shaft 38. A cross pin 39 mounted on shaft 38 cooperates with a shaft41 which is secured to sleeve 4% is held in rotatable alignment by meansof bearing 42 and bushing 43 which are both positioned in a housing 44.Worm gear 45 mounted on shaft drives worm gear 46 which is secured toshaft 47 by pin 48 (see Figures 5 and 6). Consequently, shaft 47 isdriven by motor 37 through shaft 41 and gears 45 and 46.

In Figure 6, shaft 47 is provided with bushings 49 and 50, which aresecured in housing 44. Two eccentrically bored couplings 51 and 52 aresecured to opposite ends of shaft 47 by pins 53 and 54, respectively.Stub shafts 55 and 56 are secured to couplings 51 and 52 respectively bypins 57 and 58, respectively. These couplings eccentrically associatethe crank arms with shaft 47'. Rotatably engaged on stub shafts 55 and56 are crank'arms 59 and 60. Lock rings 61 and 62 are provided to holdcrank arms 59and 60 in place. Crank arms 59 and 60 driven by shaft 47through couplings 51 and 52, and stubs shafts 55 and 56, oscillateslidably about fixed rollers 63 and 64 which are mounted on shafts 65and 66, respectively, which, in turn, are secured to housing 44 by pins67 and 68. With this structure, it will appear obvious that a rockableand slidable movement is imparted to the crank arms 59 and 60. Integralwith crank arms 59 and 69 are mounting plates 71 (shown in Figure 6) and72 (shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4 shows a side view of the motor driven structure, impartingmovement to one diaphragm. Since the diaphragms are driven similarly, itwill suflice to describe the linkage of only one crank arm to thediaphragm as i J assert shown in Figure 4. It should be noted, however,that 7 although crank arms 59 and 60 impart the same move- V featureprovides different massage movement on each foot at any given time.

In Figure 4, mounting plate 72 of crank arm 60 is secured to acup-shaped member 7'3 by screws 74 and 75. A pad 76 is positioned in cup73 contiguous to and in contact with diaphragm 33. ,The pad 76 allowsthe 'mot-i'on-which ist-ransmitted from crank arm 60 to diaphragm 33 tomove thediaphragm gently and evenly. The housing 44 is bolted to baseplate 15 by bolts 77 and, 78. 'Motor 37 is secured to housing 44 bybolts; 79 and 80. An on-off switch 85 for supplying operating power tomotor 37 is located'on the side of machine near the strap holders '(seeFigure 1).

The sliding and rocking motion of crank arms 59 and 60 is applied to thefeet of a 'user by diaphragms 32 and 33 which gently andcontinuously'massage the feet of the user.

as previously explained, the massaging action is different Since thecrank arms are cycled differently,

for each foot. This promotes circulation and tends to eliminate anymonotonous repetition'of motion which might arise if both feet weremassaged with the same motion simultaneously. This gentle actionimproves circulation, rests and relaxes tired feet and legs, promotesflexible joints and muscles, and does so Without the slightest effort orstrain on the part of the user. For those who have physical disabilitieswhich restrict physical activity, this invention provides a gentlepassive exercise which will provide beneficial relief withoutaggravating existing conditons.

'The machine is soundly constructed to assure uninterrupted,trouble-free operation. It may beeasily cleaned and sterilized.Furthermore, the device is easy to' use poses of disclosure and coversall changes and modifica- V tions. which do not constitute departuresfrom the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: a

1. In combination, a motor, a shaft, means connected to said motor forrotating said shaft, a stub shaft, coupling means for coupling said stubshaft eccentrically to said first named shaft, a crank arm mounted onsaid stub shaft, a ring positioned on'said stub shaft for locking saidcrank arm to said stub shaft, a fixed roller associated with said crankarm whereby said crank arm reciprocates about said fixed roller whendriven by said shaft, a diaphragm associated with saidshaft whereby therotating,

eccentrically to said first shaft at opposite ends .there- 7 of, a pairof crank arms mounted on said stub shafts whereby rotation of said firstshaft imparts a rotating,

rocking motion to said crank arms, a pair of fixed rollers associatedwith said crank arms whereby said crank arms oscillate slidably on saidrollers,.a pair of diaphragms,

means linking said cranks arms with said diaphragms whereby therockable, sliding movement of said crank arms is transmitted to saiddiaphragms, the force of which gently flexes the diaphragms'in acircular, recipro-f cal path. I

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, having the crank arms phased inopposition whereby as one arm moves upward the other moves downward' 74. A foot massage device adapted to massage the feet of the user whenpositioned thereon, comprising a casing having two elongated openings inthe top portion thereof,

resilient diaphragms mounted in said openings, adjustable feetpositioning means mounted adjacent said openings, adjustable feetsecuring means attached to'said casing whereby said feet positioning andsecuring means cooperate to, position the feetof the user on saiddiaphragms,

pulsating motion of said crankarm is transmitted to said shafts,coupling means for coupling said stub shafts motor driven crank ar msassociated with and for imparting motion toisaid diaphragrns, means forrockably and slidably driving said crank arms whereby said diaphragmsare flexed with a rotating, reciprocal motion which gently massages thefeet of the user, cup-shaped members, having pads therein secured tosaid' crank arms, said pads being contiguous to and in contact with saiddiaphragms.

5. A'foot massage deviceadapted to massage the feet of the user whenpositioned thereon, comprising a casing hevingtwo elongated openings inthe top portion thereof, resilient diaphragms mounted in said openings,adjustable feet'positioning means mounted adjacent said openings,adjustable feet securing means attached to said casing whereby said feetpositioning and securing means coop crate to position the feet of theuser'on said diaphrag'ms, a motor driven shaft, mounted in said casing,a pair' of stub shafts, coupling means for coupling said stub shaftseccentrically to said motor'driven shaft atopposite ends thereof, a pairof crank arms mounted on said stub shafts whereby rotation of said firstshaft imparts a rotatable, rocking motion to said crank arms, a'pair offixed rollers associated with said crank arms whereby said crank armsoscillate slidably on said rollers, means linking said crank arms withsaid diaphragms whereby said .diaphragms are foot at any given time.

References Cited in thefile of this lpatent 7

